In keeping a promise he made at his inauguration last November, Emfuleni Local Municipality Executive Mayor, Councillor Jacob Khawe continues to lead a cleaning campaign in different wards and residential areas in the municipality.

The campaign is aimed at accelerating and supporting existing service delivery programs and takes place on a fortnightly basis. It is all about service delivery departments, their employees and senior personnel converging in an identified area to deliver services. It is aimed at achieving a cleaner environment for residents of Emfuleni and encouraging them to participate in eradicating dumping sites.

In recent weeks, Councillor Khawe, accompanied by Members of the Mayoral Committee, Senior Managers and employees from service delivery departments targeted parts of Sebokeng, Sharpeville, Vanderbijlpark and Vereeniging where household waste was collected and illegal dumping sites were cleared in different areas.

Councillor Khawe challenged all stakeholders and residents to fight illegal dumping and join hands in the cleaning campaign which he said will be undertaken across all Emfuleni wards “All of us must come together and fight against illegal dumping. Our townships must be clean and we rely on our residents to safeguard their environment. Cleanliness starts with communities,” he said.

The Executive Mayor also called on local businesses to support the cleaning campaign. “A clean city is a must and I challenge all Ward Councillors to continue engaging communities about intensifying this cleaning campaign. I was saddened to learn that in Tshepiso, Sharpeville and Debonair Park, where we have taken this cleaning campaign, illegal dumping remains a challenge and rubbish is now piling up again,” he said.

By Wandisile Kunene